During my two Sojourns with the Grow's in Brazil (1990 and 1993), Nan encouraged me to study and learn Portuguese. So when the free Duolingo site began to offer it a few years ago, I signed up and have continued to complete a lesson every day since. A pretty nutty idea, I suppose, for a person at age 93 who will never return to Brazil. But what the heck? I think I do it to honor Nan, for as a do the lesson I often think of her. And will continue to do so! [A]vante nós iremos e algum dia no futuro distante, nós pararemos e nos viraremos surpresos ao ver todos os lugares que nós estivemos e os heróis que fomos. -- John Webster
[O]nward we go and some day in the distant future, we will stop and turn around in astonishment to see all the places we've been and the heroes we were. – Garrison Keillor
_______________________________________________Dear Rebecca, Bill, Brad and Ian,We grieve with you on the death of Nan.I remember Nan so well and thoroughly enjoyed watching the video clip made on her 70 th Birthday! A woman of grace and inner strength and one who taught me many important things to enrich my own life.We send deepest condolences to Bill and the family. Our lives were touched by Nan and we are kinder and more wholesome people through this.With respect and in grief,Isobel and Jim BishopIsobel BishopMob. 0412 129 425Dear Bill and loved ones,And I thought Nan was one of those people who would live forever. At 92 she almost did, then went quickly and gracefully as she lived her life.Bill, it is hard to think of one of you without the other, even now. Marilyn has frequently kept me up to date on the 2 of you. Be gentle with yourself in this time of transition knowing that you will be surrounded with love and support from so many.Love and kindness,SarahSent from my iPhoneOn Sep 29, 2020, at 8:05 AM, Shelley Hahn via OE <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:Good morning, friends,_______________________________________________Rebecca Grow asked if I would forward this message to the OE list. It includes both her email address and Bill's.Fond regards,Shelley HahnFrom: Rebecca Grow <rjgrow@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Sep 28, 2020 at 3:15 PM
Subject: Nan Grow
To: <dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Bill Grow <billgrow@verizon.net>Dear Order Colleagues,
On behalf of Bill Grow, I am writing to let you know that my mother, Nan, suffered a large stroke on Thursday and died from it two days later. Our family gathered to be with her until the end and to support Dad. She was kept comfortable in hospice care and we prayed over her.
Nan would have turned 92 on October 23. I told my friends that she had been a missionary in Korea, a pastor’s wife and mother of four, a member of an ecumenical society that focused on community development as its mission, and a teacher who traveled throughout Asia and to Zambia and lived in Brazil. Along the way, she got her Doctor of Ministry degree and became a UCC pastor in Georgia and Florida. She lived a life of integrity, focused on acting out her faith. She loved poetry and language, and she played a wicked game of Scrabble.
It has been hard for Bill and Nan, as for so many others, to bear the isolation that Covid-19 has imposed. I am grateful that they were able to spend their August wedding anniversary visiting—socially distanced—with Marilyn and Joe Crocker.
We intend to organize an online memorial to share more of Nan’s story and to reminisce. It may be months before we do this. Meanwhile, we would be grateful to receive your stories and memories about her.
Bill will be sending a notice to another list, and he apologizes that some of you may receive this news in duplicate.
Grace and peace to you,
Rebecca Grow
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